Deep Dive: Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpeckers may remind you of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but they’re a different species. Although they both have red on their heads and markings of black and white on their bodies, they differ slightly. Crimson-crested Woodpeckers don’t have the white markings on the edges of their wings like Ivory-billed Woodpeckers do. They have two white lines on their back that look like a “V” shape, and they have white fronts with a lot of black barring.

They stand about 13-15 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 6 and 10 ounces.¹They can be found in North and South America within forest and open woodland habitats.^1&2They have a very large range, which contributes to their listing as of least concern by the IUCN.³

Like many other woodpecker species we’ve talked about, these birds peck into trees to get to the insects inside. Crimson-crested Woodpeckers eat:^1&2

Caterpillars
Larvae
Termites
Ants
Beetles

When they reproduce, both males and females will incubate the eggs for up to two weeks.^1&2They’ll build their nest in a cavity they create in a dead tree, and because they incubate their eggs for such a short time, they stay in the nest longer than other species. Offspring will stay with their parents until its time for them to reproduce again.¹

Dive Deep into Your Dissection Experience

Have you tried out our 2 Region Pellet Pack? This includes two owl pellets – one from the Southwest and one from the Northwest. Dissect both and see what dietary differences you can find!